European Super Football

Torino 2 - 2 Juventus  Juventus threw away a two-goal lead and results elsewhere saw them miss out on a place in next season's Champions League  Author | Jack L Stadium | Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino The first clear opening fell to Juve as a deep corner dropped kindly for Federico Gatti, but with little time to adjust and the ball bouncing awkwardly, he could only steer his effort over the bar from close range. Despite the miss, the moment appeared to inject some urgency into the visitors and they moved ahead midway through the first half. The move began with a surging run from Khephren Thuram and, after reaching the edge of the area, he found Dusan Vlahovic, who took a touch to compose himself before drilling a deflected strike beyond Alberto Paleari. The home side were much better in the second-half Torino failed to register a shot on target before the break but emerged with greater purpose after half-time against a Juventus side who had learned during the interval that res...

Real Madrid 2 - 0 Real Oviedo Kylian Mbappe says he is now Real Madrid's fourth-choice striker after being left out of the starting line-up for their victory over Real Oviedo. Author | Jack L Stadium | Bernabéu The French forward was whistled by sections of the Bernabeu crowd when he came off the bench in the 69th minute on Thursday. Vinicius Junior, Gonzalo Garcia and Franco Mastantuono were all selected ahead of the 27-year-old in attack. Mbappe had missed Real's previous two matches with a thigh injury, including Sunday's defeat by Barcelona that confirmed the La Liga title for their rivals. The World Cup winner has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks over his commitment to the club, while an online petition calling for 'Mbappe Out' has gathered tens of millions of signatures. A win despite drama off the pitch Real Madrid have endured another season without silverware, prompting growing unrest that only intensified after their defeat by Barcelona. ...

Lazio 0 - 3 Inter Inter Milan produced a polished display as Lautaro Martinez inspired the Serie A champions to a comfortable win over Lazio. Author | Jack L Stadium | Stadio Olimpico The Inter captain scored once and created another for Petar Susic in what served as an ideal rehearsal for Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan also found the net for the Nerazzurri. How Inter strolled to a victory Martinez opened the scoring after only six minutes at Stadio Olimpico, turning in from close range after Marcus Thuram flicked on Yann Bisseck’s throw at the near post. The Argentina forward then turned creator in the 39th minute, rolling the ball into the path of Susic, who applied a composed finish to double Inter’s advantage. Watch | Highlights from Serie A YouTube account   Edoardo Motta produced an impressive double save to deny Bisseck early in the second half, but Lazio’s hopes faded further in the 59th minute when Alessio Romagnoli was sent off after a VAR r...

PSG 5 - 4 Bayern Munich Paris Saint-Germain edged a nine-goal thriller against Bayern Munich in Paris to take a narrow advantage in their Champions League semi-final. Author | Jack L Stadium |  Parc des Princes Five goals arrived in a breathless first half and the drama continued after the interval as the holders stretched into a three-goal lead. Bayern, already crowned Bundesliga champions and chasing a Treble, reduced the deficit to one to leave the tie finely poised ahead of the second leg in Munich. With the competition’s two most prolific sides meeting, it felt appropriate that a lively crowd witnessed such a high-quality, attack-minded contest. A closer analysis of what happened Having fallen behind to Harry Kane’s penalty after Luis Diaz was fouled by William Pacho, PSG responded with authority. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia cut in from the left and guided a fine effort into the far corner before Joao Neves headed the hosts in front. Bayern replied through a moment of individual br...

Getafe 0 - 2 Barcelona Marcus Rashford was on target as Barcelona tightened their grip on a second successive La Liga title with victory over Getafe. Author | Jack L Stadium | Estadio Coliseum The on-loan Manchester United forward finished a sweeping counterattack in the second half, with Hansi Flick’s side capitalising on Real Madrid’s surprise 1-1 draw with Real Betis on Friday night. Barcelona are now 11 points clear of their rivals with five games remaining as they close in on a 29th title. A closer analysis of what happened Fermin Lopez had given them the lead just before the interval, the masked attacking midfielder played through by an incisive pass from Pedri. Watch | Highlights from Barcelona YouTube channel They were without Lamine Yamal after the teenager’s season was ended by a hamstring injury sustained in the midweek win over Celta Vigo, and Rashford began on the bench before replacing Roony Bardghji on the hour. Getafe, chasing a European place, committed bodies forw...

Atletico Madrid 2 - 2 Real Sociedad (Real Sociedad won 4-2 on penalties) Real Sociedad beat Atletico Madrid on penalties to claim a fourth Copa del Rey title. Author | Jack L Stadium | Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla Atletico twice fought back to force the final into extra time and then a shootout, but Unai Marrero saved two spot-kicks to earn Sociedad their first trophy since 2020. Sociedad had stunned Diego Simeone’s side with the fastest goal in a Copa del Rey final, Ander Barrenetxea glancing Goncalo Guedes’ cross into the corner after just 14 seconds. That lead was wiped out when Ademola Lookman slotted home low on 18 minutes, yet Mikel Oyarzabal restored Sociedad’s advantage from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time after Juan Musso caught Guedes while attempting to punch clear. Watch | Pre match TIFO from the Sociedad stands Atletico carried the greater threat after the interval and were rewarded when Julian Alvarez struck brilliantly from the edge of the area into the...

Atletico Madrid 1 - 2 Barcelona (Atletico Madrid won 3-2 on aggregate) Atletico Madrid withstood a spirited Barcelona revival to reach the Champions League semi-finals Author | Jack L Stadium | Metropolitano Pre-match atmosphere Trailing 2-0 from the first meeting, Barcelona struck early. Lamine Yamal reduced the deficit inside five minutes, sliding his finish beneath Juan Musso after a loose touch from former Barcelona defender Clément Lenglet. The tie was level 19 minutes later. Ferran Torres collected Dani Olmo’s pass and sent a precise left-footed effort into the top corner, briefly silencing the home support. That quiet lasted only moments Marcos Llorente surged down the right and picked out Ademola Lookman, who finished to restore Atletico’s advantage on aggregate. Barcelona had earlier passed up the chance to extend their lead on the night, Musso reacting sharply to deny Fermín López from close range with an outstretched block. View from the away end Torres believed he had added...

Barcelona 4 - 1 Espanyol  Barcelona moved nine points clear of rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga with a composed victory over Espanyol in the Catalan derby. Author |  Jack L Stadium  |  Spotify Camp Nou Ferran Torres climbed highest to meet Lamine Yamal’s corner at the back post after nine minutes, setting the tone early. The former Manchester City forward added a second midway through the first half, racing onto a clever outside-of-the-boot pass from Yamal and getting the better of Marko Dmitrovic to finish calmly. At just 18 years and 272 days, Yamal became the club’s youngest player to reach 100 appearances, underlining his growing influence with two assists. Espanyol, who struggled to establish control for long periods, pulled one back in the 56th minute when Pol Lozano reacted quickest in the box after Eric Garcia’s block. Fernando Calero later headed wide from Ramon Terrats’ corner, but the visitors could not find a way through. Barcelona responded with ...

Real Madrid 1 - 1 Girona Real Madrid’s faltering run continued as their already fragile La Liga title hopes suffered another setback in a frustrating draw Author | Jack L Stadium | Bernabéu Victory would have trimmed Barcelona’s lead at the summit to four points before Saturday’s derby against Espanyol. Instead, Hansi Flick’s side could move nine points clear with a win, as Madrid’s winless sequence stretched to three matches in all competitions. This match also formed part of La Liga's retro weekend where sides are wearing kits from their past. What happened on the night? Federico Valverde gave the hosts the lead six minutes into the second half at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, his low effort from the edge of the area slipping beyond Paulo Gazzaniga. The advantage lasted only 11 minutes. Thomas Lemar surged in from the right and drove past Andriy Lunin to restore parity, and Madrid could not summon a response. Kylian Mbappé saw a penalty appeal waved away as frustration grew. Wat...

Kosovo 0 - 1 Turkey Turkey reached their first World Cup in 24 years as Kerem Akturkoglu’s goal secured a narrow play-off victory over Kosovo. Author | Jack L Stadium | Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri They had not qualified since finishing third at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but will now take their place in Group C this summer alongside Australia, Paraguay and co-hosts the United States. In a tense encounter in Pristina, Kenan Yildiz cut the ball back for Orkun Kokcu, whose mis-hit effort was turned in at the back post by the Fenerbahce forward Akturkoglu in the 53rd minute. Kosovo, seeking a first major tournament since joining FIFA and UEFA in 2016, went close before the break when Ugurcan Cakir tipped Fisnik Asllani’s strike onto the crossbar. Turkey, who managed only one other shot on target, held on to secure their third World Cup appearance and end a run of five successive failed qualification campaigns. pic.twitter.com/Y2oIAMVcaE — Türkiye #BizimÇocuklar 🇹🇷 (@MilliTakimlar) March 3...

Atalanta 4 - 1 Borussia Dortmund (Atalanta won 4-3 on aggregate) Atalanta scored a dramatic last-gasp penalty to complete a remarkable comeback against Borussia Dortmund  Author | Jack L Stadium | New Balance Arena Facing a daunting task after a 2-0 defeat in Germany, the hosts tore into the tie with first-half goals from Gianluca Scamacca and Davide Zappacosta to draw level on aggregate.  The momentum continued after the break when Mario Pasalic made it 3-0 on the night in the 57th minute. There was to be some late drama Dortmund appeared to have forced extra time when Karim Adeyemi curled in a crucial goal to restore parity overall, but the drama was not done. Deep into stoppage time, Ramy Bensebaini caught Nikola Krstovic with a high boot in the penalty area as the Atalanta forward attacked a cross following an error by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. After a VAR review, referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez awarded a penalty and showed Bensebaini a second yellow card. Lazar Samardz...

Barcelona 4 - 0 Athletic Club Barcelona moved to the top of La Liga with an emphatic win over 10-man Athletic Club in their first match at their iconic home since May 2023. Author | Jack L Stadium  |  Spotify Camp Nou Robert Lewandowski scored their first goal back in their iconic home, which had been closed for extensive renovations, in the fourth minute. Ferran Torres netted towards the end of both halves, each assisted by wonderful skill from Lamine Yamal, who was aged just 15 in his only previous Nou Camp appearance. Fermin Lopez also struck in the 48th minute, while visiting midfielder Oihan Sancet was sent off for a crude challenge on Lopez just six minutes later. Large sections of the Nou Camp remained closed for the game, which was played in front of a 45,157 crowd. The rebuilding work, which was originally scheduled to be finished in November 2024, will eventually increase the stadium's capacity to 105,000. Barca moved to 31 points from 13 games and top on goa...

Barcelona are set for a long-awaited return to the Nou Camp this weekend This is more than two years after leaving their historic home for extensive redevelopment works.  Author |  Jack L The La Liga match with Athletic Club on Saturday 22 November will mark the first fixture at the ground since May 2023. The stadium reopens with a temporary capacity of 45,401 following the latest phase of its renovation. Barcelona last played there in an official match on 28 May 2023 against Real Mallorca, before the site was shut down to begin a project aimed at transforming the arena into a modern venue fit for the future. Work began in June 2023 with a budget of about £1.1bn and an ambition to raise the capacity to 105,000, placing it among the largest stadiums in world football. The club had hoped to return in November 2024 to align with their 125th anniversary, but a series of delays pushed that target back. During the redevelopment, they shifted most of their fixtures to the Olympic...

Another big European side making a managerial change Ajax have confirmed they will part ways with manager John Heitinga less than six months after he took charge, following a poor run of results. Author | Jack L Heitinga, 41, won five of his 11 Eredivisie matches, with the Amsterdam side now eight points behind league leaders Feyenoord. The club have also lost all four of their Champions League fixtures this season, including a 3-0 home defeat to Galatasaray on Wednesday. Heitinga, a former Everton defender, served as Arne Slot's assistant last season when Liverpool claimed the Premier League. He returned to Ajax in late May on a two-year contract, having made more than 200 appearances for the club as a player and holding previous roles as reserve-team coach and interim head coach. READ MORE | Ajax v Galatasaray match report on Super News Affiliate Technical director Alex Kroes told the club’s website: "It's a painful decision. We know it can take time for a new coach to w...

Barcelona 3 - 1 Elche  Marcus Rashford was on target for Barcelona as they recovered from their El Clásico defeat with a composed victory over Elche. Author | Jack L Stadium | Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres gave Hansi Flick’s side an early two-goal cushion before Rafa Mir briefly gave the visitors hope. Rashford’s strike just after the hour settled the contest and lifted Barça back to second, five points adrift of Real Madrid. Barca eventually take control Elche thought they had taken the lead when the ball found the net early on, only for the offside flag to cut short the celebrations. From that point, Barcelona asserted control. Yamal opened the scoring in the ninth minute, cutting inside from Alejandro Balde’s pass and bending a superb finish into the far corner. Two minutes later, the hosts doubled their advantage as Fermin López capitalised on a defensive slip by Adria Pedrosa and squared for Torres to score from close range. Mir reduced the d...

Real Madrid 2 - 1 Barcelona Jude Bellingham delivered a goal and an assist in La Liga for the first time this season as Real Madrid edged past Barcelona in a frantic El Clasico. Author | Jack L Stadium | Santiago Bernabéu Bellingham split Barcelona’s defence with a precise through ball for Kylian Mbappe to open the scoring midway through the first half. Bellingham then restored Madrid’s advantage with a close-range finish five minutes after Fermin Lopez had levelled. It was Bellingham’s fourth goal in five matches against Barcelona, helping Xabi Alonso’s side move five points clear at the top. The contest ended in disorder, with Pedri dismissed and tempers simmering on the sidelines. A closer look at a dramatic night Madrid lost all four meetings with their great rivals last season, but they set about attacking the visitors’ high defensive line from the outset. Vinicius Junior won an early penalty only for VAR to overturn the decision, ruling he had initiated the contact with Lami...

Barcelona 6 - 1 Olympiacos Fermin Lopez scored a hat-trick while Marcus Rashford extended his personal tally to four goals from three Champions League games as Barcelona dismantled Olympiacos. Author | Jack L Stadium | Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys Lopez’s two precise first-half finishes put Barcelona in command, before his third goal, a Lamine Yamal penalty and a Rashford double ended any brief Olympiacos revival. A closer look at what happened Lopez opened the scoring in the seventh minute, following Yamal’s through ball, finishing past the defenders on the goal-line after goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis blocked but could not hold onto the ball. The Spanish midfielder doubled Barcelona’s lead half an hour later, running onto Dro Fernandez’s pass into space, cutting inside and curling a left-footed strike into the corner. READ MORE |  Champions League news from the 25/26 season The second half began in unusual circumstances. Ayoub El Kaabi appeared to halve the deficit w...

There have been protests against the decision to have La Liga matches outside the country Players in La Liga stood still for the opening 15 seconds of matches on Saturday in protest against the league’s decision to stage a fixture in Miami. Author |  Jack L The demonstrations came during high-profile games involving Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, who hosted Girona and Osasuna respectively, and followed the example set by Oviedo and Espanyol on Friday evening. Identical protests took place in Sevilla’s meeting with Mallorca and Villarreal’s clash with Real Betis. As during the Oviedo v Espanyol game, television coverage of Barcelona’s fixture avoided showing the action on the pitch during the protest, instead cutting to shots of the stadium exterior. In other matches, cameras focused tightly on the centre circle rather than offering a wide view of the players standing motionless. The protests stem from the Spanish football federation’s decision in August to approve Villarreal’s ...

Spain 2 - 0 Georgia Spain maintained their perfect start to World Cup qualifying with a comfortable victory over Georgia in Elche. Author | Jack L Stadium | Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero Crystal Palace midfielder Yeremy Pino opened the scoring after 24 minutes, tapping in from close range after Robin le Normand’s knockdown. Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili then conceded a penalty for fouling Ferran Torres, but redeemed himself moments later by saving the Barcelona forward’s spot-kick. Tottenham defender Pedro Porro struck the post with a curling effort as Spain continued to control proceedings and carve out chances. Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal eventually made it 2-0 with a superb free-kick, beating Mamardashvili at his near post with a powerful strike. Mamardashvili continued to impress though. He denied Torres once more in the 88th minute, helping to keep the scoreline respectable for Georgia, who were otherwise outclassed. The result keeps Spain firmly on track ...

Sevilla 4 - 1 Barcelona Barcelona squandered the chance to return to the top of La Liga after being comprehensively beaten by Sevilla. Author | Jack L Stadium | Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Sunny scenes from the stands in Sevilla Needing a win to overtake Real Madrid , the defending champions endured their heaviest defeat to Sevilla since a 4-0 loss in 1951. Robert Lewandowski missed a second-half penalty after Marcus Rashford had pulled one back with a left-footed volley in first-half stoppage time, briefly giving the visitors hope of overturning a two-goal deficit. Hansi Flick’s side were second best for much of the contest and deservedly fell to their first league defeat of the season against opponents who had not beaten them in La Liga for more than a decade. Source | FC Barcelona's YouTube channel Former Barcelona winger Alexis Sánchez opened the scoring from the penalty spot after captain Ronald Araújo fouled Isaac Romero near the byline. Romero added a second from a...